The ultimate weekend in Vienna travel guide
When it comes to organizing the ideal weekend in Vienna, it’s all about embracing the Austrian capital’s seductive blend of old-world beauty and modern edge.
Vienna, steeped in history, combines past cultural successes with modern must-haves. Furthermore, the Economist ranked this historic city the world’s most livable city in 2018!
Enjoy a long weekend in Vienna with our Vienna city break schedule, which includes everything from live jazz to butterfly houses, coffee beverages to regal palaces, and plenty of cake in between.
Things to Consider When Visiting Vienna for a Weekend
Traveling around Vienna
Vienna’s public transportation system is both economical and efficient, with buses, trains, trams, and a basic metro system that allows you to move far beyond the regular tourist destinations.
Nonetheless, it’s a city worth touring at street level whenever feasible, thanks to its beautiful architecture – remember to look up!
The best time to visit Vienna
Spring and summer for ideal weather:
Vienna is best visited in the spring and summer, when temperatures are in the low 20s Celsius by mid-May and frequently surge into the 30s around August. In late March, the days are still cool and there aren’t many tourists.
The weather is perfect for enjoying a beer outside while taking in the scenery. You can also schedule your trip to coincide with the Summer Night Concert (typically held in late May), the Vienna International Dance Festival, or the Music Film Festival.
Vienna is best visited in the spring and summer, when temperatures are in the low 20s Celsius by mid-May and frequently surge into the 30s around August. In late March, the days are still cool and there aren’t many tourists.
The weather is perfect for enjoying a beer outside while taking in the scenery. You can also schedule your trip to coincide with the Summer Night Concert (typically held in late May), the Vienna International Dance Festival, or the Music Film Festival.
Autumn and winter for Christmas markets
Temperatures begin to plummet again in October, remaining around zero degrees throughout the winter months, with light snow and brisk winds not unusual.
The weather is perfect for enjoying a beer outside while taking in the scenery. A winter weekend in Vienna is the height of romance.
Day 1: Take a plane to Vienna and begin your exploration
Fly into Vienna International Airport but avoid the costly cabs and take the S-bahn into the city center, which should cost roughly €4.
Experience the cafe’s culture
After that early journey, you’ll probably need something to wake you up; luckily, the Viennese know how to do coffee culture.
Locate a coffee shop and request an einspänner, which is a Viennese coffee accompanied by a whipped cream spray and an espresso shot.
The city is also well-known for its mouthwatering apple strudels, if you’re craving something sweet—which you should be.
Now it’s time to go exploring.
See the cathedrals and catacombs
St Stephen’s Cathedral, known for its tiled roof, is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture that has dominated the city skyline for nearly a millennium.
The city’s perspective makes the more than three hundred steps to the top of the South Tower worthwhile.
The catacombs tour (€6), on the other end of the spectrum, offers an intriguing glimpse into the city’s past.
Wander to the river
Take a moment to pause in front of the residence where Mozart wrote many of his most well-known pieces, then stroll through the tiny lanes that encircle Fleishmarkt, with its assortment of arches and beautiful facades, allowing yourself to be taken back to ancient Vienna.
Stop into Fenster Café – literally, window cafe – for a 99-cent espresso or a bit more ornate cornettocino… yup, a coffee in an ice cream cone.
Dinner in Vienna
Vienna is well-known for its cake, but it also has a variety of other delectable foods, so try one of the numerous restaurants in the region for dinner.
Whatever you choose, pair it with a glass of local white wine; Vienna has over 700 wineries inside its city limits, so there’s likely to be something you enjoy.
And, because you’re on vacation, finish the meal with a plate of Kaiserschmarrn, which are fluffy shredded pancakes topped with warm fruit sauce.
Each season, the Wiener Staatsoper stages more than 350 performances of over 60 ballets and operas featuring some of the world’s most gifted artists. Plan ahead!
Day 2: Palaces, Viennese Street Food
Explore the Schönbrunn Palace
It’s time to make use of Vienna’s great public transportation system and ride the U4 metro line to the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, a Baroque masterpiece.
This old royal home was constructed in the late 1600s and expanded by successive rulers, each more eager to impress than the last.
The end result is a massive 1,400-room structure filled with ornate architecture, highly detailed murals, and gold leaf. It is distinguished by its ochre yellow exterior and is set in expansive sculptured grounds that include a maze and a palm house.
Return to the city and make your way to Naschmarkt, a vast marketplace brimming with activity and bustle.
This vibrant district of Vienna boasts over 120 market kiosks and numerous restaurants serving gastronomic delights from all over the world.
We highly recommend trying Wiener schnitzel, Austria’s most famous meal.
Serve it with Almdudler, the de facto national beverage of the nation, a sweet, bubbly juice made from herbs and elderflower. It may sound strange, but it’s actually quite wonderful.
Visit the Vienna Central Cemetery
After experiencing how easy and efficient Vienna’s public transportation is to use, you’ll be ready for the afternoon’s activity: a visit to the Central Cemetery.
It is one of the world’s largest burial sites, with over 3 million people interred here – more than all of Vienna’s citizens – and so huge that it even has its bus service.
Graves range from gorgeously ornate to slightly bizarre, making them far from morbid. Beethoven and Johannes Brahms are among the cemetery’s most famous residents, as are all Austrian presidents who have died since 1945.
Try out some street food
In Vienna, street food is referred to as a Würstelstand.
These little sausage servers can be seen throughout the city, serving either pork or veal to hungry inhabitants.
For something unusual, try the Bosna, which has onions and curry, or the Käsekrainer, which is loaded with cheese.
Day 03: Strudel, Sachertorte, and Cultural Treasures
After that night out, you’ll definitely want something mild to get your day started, so grab a much-needed coffee and then head to the Schmetterlinghaus, also known as the butterfly house.
A tropical haven of calm in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 400 of these gorgeous creatures. Sit back and allow the butterflies to come.
After that, perhaps it’s time for another strudel stop? Go for the milk-cream strudel, which is an oven-baked pastry packed with delicious ingredients and topped with hot vanilla sauce.
For more details kindly visit http://aboutvienna.org
